Map of Ireland showing where the Roach arms are recorded
The Roach arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1645.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.
Charles I of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles I of England
1625–1649
Reigning in Ireland when the Roach arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Ireland
The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.
Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Roach Family in Ireland
The surname Roach has deep roots in the rugged landscape of Cornwall, where families bearing the name were well-established by the mid-seventeenth century. The name is often linked to the Middle English word roche, which described a person who lived near a prominent rock formation or a steep cliff. In the coastal environment of Cornwall, such geographical markers were common and served as natural landmarks for local residents. As the family grew in this region during the 1600s, they became part of the distinct social fabric of the Cornish peninsula. This area was known for its unique cultural identity and its reliance on mining and maritime trade. By settling in this part of England, the early Roach families contributed to the local history of a region that remained somewhat isolated from the rest of the country for many generations.
Roach Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
roche
Old French word for a rock or stone cliff.
This name
RoachA topographical name for someone who lived near a prominent rocky outcrop or crag.
also spelled
Roche
Related arms
Rochevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Cornwall Archives, Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1645
Hanks, Patrick, Dictionary of American Family Names, 2003
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
fishA true and generous mind, and Christian faith
crescentHonour by the sovereign, and the second son
